Folding chair.



G. F. DAVIS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 11, 1909.

Patented May 6, 1913.

CHARLES F. DAVIS, 0F DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6,1913.

Application filed June 11, 1909. Serial No. 501,535.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Downers Grove, in the county of Dupage and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs,'of which the following is a specifloat-ion.

This invention relates to folding chairs; and has for its object to provide a chair that is exceedingly simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive in manufacture, and very strong and durable.

Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a part elevation and part section in a folded posit-ion. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of broken away details of the seat member. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a connecting movement link.

In this instance the back companion side bars and the front legs form an integral part, but will be designated by different reference characters for convenience and clearness in description. The back side bars A and the front legs B are made in one continuous piece. The front and hind legs C on each side are connected by a pivot round 6, which runs through the hind legs and has its respective ends let into the front legs, as indicated at a, Fig. 2. The connecting folding movement links D, comprise a bar 7 having its respective ends 8 and 9 turned at approximately right angles in opposite directions thereto, as best shown in Fig. 5. The companion hind legs are provided in their outer sides with an elongated recess 10, and the front legs with a longitudinal slot 11. In assembling the parts, the pivot ends 8 of the links D are inserted through the hind legs and the opposite right angle ends 9 inserted through the slots 11 in the front legs. The angle part 9 terminates in a turned up hood-end 12 which overlaps the outer edge of the slots 11 and prevents disengagement,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The recesses 10 are approximately of a triangular shape, and present the long side wall 13 and the shorter top shoulder wall 14. It will be noted that the pivot ends 8 of the links D are inserted through the front legs at the corner junction 15 of the triangle walls 13 and 14, in providing for the proper movement and support of the folding parts.

When the chair is opened out for use the different parts assume the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position, the bar part 7 of the connecting links D comes to a lock stop bearing against the shoulder wall 14 and limits the open movement, the outer angle end 9 having moved up and come to a stop in the upper end of the slots 11, which not only has the effect of limiting the open movement but stifiens and strengthens the structure as a whole. In folding the chair up into the flat compact position shown in Fig. 3, the angle ends 9 of the links D move down to the bottom of the slots 11 and bring the bar-part 7 parallel along the side wall 13 of the recesses 10, as shown in Fig. 3. \Vhen the chair seat is turned down for use, from its folded up position, it comes in contact with the upper ends of the hind legs and automatically throws them out to a supporting position. The shape of the links D is such that they will remain in place Without the use of nuts or rivet heads and thus insure a free action and avoid a cramping or binding effect.

A stationary seat cross bar 16 has its respective pintle-ends 17 inserted in the back side-bars A in line with the folding seat E, as best shown in Fig. 4. The respective rear corners of the seat are curved out to provide bearing boxes 18 in which the pintle ends 17 rest. The front ends of companion straps 19 are rigidly'secured to the respective rear corners of the seat member. The rear ends of these straps curve downward as at 6, over the bearing boxes 18 and provide caps therefor in retaining the seat in place for its pivotal movement. In its folded position the ends of the hind legs overlap and bear against the adjacent rear edge of the seat member as at (Z, and lock the seat against accidentally opening out when bein stacked for storage or shipment. When the seat is turned down for use, it rests on the upper free ends of the rear legs (Fig. 1) which form the main support therefor in connection with the cross-bar 16.

In this form of construction and connection there are no weak or loose rattling joints; the part moves with ease and on the whole presents a structure that is convenient and substantial.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim is 1. In a folding chair, the combination with the hind legs provided with approximately triangular recess presenting a top shoulder wall and a longer side wall, of the front legs having slot-s therein, and the connecting movement links having the inner angle ends loosely inserted through the hind legs at the junction of said side and top shoulder wall bounding said recesses, and the outer angle ends loosely inserted in and traversing said slots.

2. In a folding chair the combination with the hind legs provided with recesses, of the front legs slotted longitudinally the connecting movement links having their respective angular ends in loose engagement with said legs, the bar part of said links coming to a stop against the top shoulder wall of said. recesses when the chair is opened out and moving to parallel position with the side wall of said recesses When the chair is folded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. DAVIS.

lVitncsses J. H. STANTON, M. J. KIRKLAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

